Jonathan Livingston Seagull

“They are saying in the Flock that if you are not the Son of the Great Gull Himself”, Fletcher told Jonathan one morning after Advanced Speed Practice, “then you are a thousand years ahead of your time.”
Jonathan sighed. The price of being misunderstood he thought. They call you devil or they call you god. “What do you think, Fletch? Are we ahead of our time?”
A long silence, “Well, this kind of flying has always been here to be learned by anyone who wanted to discover it; that’s got nothing to do with time. We’re ahead of the fashion, maybe. Ahead of the way that most gulls fly.”“That’s something,” Jonathan said, rolling to glide inverted for a while. “That’s not half as bad as being ahead of our time”.
Richard Bach
Jonathan Livingston Seagull

The Seagull Speaks Creative Commons Copyright

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Walking Through Illusion: A Review

I have just finished reading Walking Through Illusion by Betsy Otter Thompson.

This book consists of inspired information in which Jesus speaks about the people who shared his journey during his time here on Earth, such as Mary Magdalene, Judas and Pilate for example.

Each chapter deals with particular individuals to whom Jesus gave advice and with whom he discussed the particular issues they faced, how they were influenced by his teachings, his approach to life and his state of Being.

It is a joy to read about Jesus' own thought processes here - truly inspired and presented with great beauty. 

Always, the advice of Jesus is to approach the issues of every day life from a heart-based state of Being. Betsy states that in order to begin to write this book she had to open her heart to different emotional issues. In the process of praying and asking for a way forward this approach was revealed to her.


Each chapter deals with issues/topics that we all face in our everyday lives in this reality such as Reform, Gifts, Obstacles, Morality, Nourishment, Beliefs, Opinions, Approval, Fairness, Curiosity, Truth, Advice, Complaints, Acceptance, Hearts, Handicaps, Betrayal, Identities, Hatred, Memories, Confusion, Death and Time. 

For example, Bartholomew was give the following advice by Jesus: 

"See success differently, I told Bartholomew, and instead of insisting it’s something you see with your eyes, see it as something you feel in your heart. I called this process walking through illusion". 

The book is full of beautiful statements like this. I particularly enjoyed the quotes at the beginning and end of each chapter. These words are truly inspired and inspiring.

At the end of each chapter there is a worksheet section in which the reader can work through their own thoughts/feelings on the issues highlighted in each chapter. These sections are particularly useful I feel. Finally, Betsy shares her own reflections on the issues raised in each chapter, which provides a nice personal touch.

This is a book about the words and approaches of Jesus specifically and not surprisingly, in this context, there is universal wisdom here, which all true seekers will enjoy and benefit from. The concepts are presented and discussed with clarity and ease.

The words of Jesus still resonate and remain alive through this work. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it as a book to keep by the bedside and to return to again and again for deep insights and wisdom on the joy and travails of every day living.